01City Guide
Mogao Caves
莫高窟
All Ages
Admission
Reservation required; choose a regular or emergency visit online.
Typical Visit
Half a day
Quick Facts
Ticket
CNY 55 for foreign visitors, including a CNY 15 foreign-language guiding fee.
Hours
May 1-Oct 31: 09:00-17:30, ticket sales until 16:30. Nov 1-Apr 30: 09:30-17:00, ticket sales until 16:00.
Transport
No direct metro. Drive or hire a car from central Dunhuang; allow 2-2.5 hours.
Duration
About 2.5-3 hours
Best Time
May-Oct for the longer opening hours; arrive early for guided sessions
Visitors
Visitors interested in Buddhist art, murals, and guided heritage visits
How to Visit
1
Treat Yulin Caves as a separate day trip
Drive or hire a car from central Dunhuang to Yulin Caves; the journey takes about 2-2.5 hours. This is a separate outing toward Guazhou, not a short add-on within central Dunhuang.
Tip:Build the road time into the day rather than fitting the caves between city sights.
2
Book the ordinary-cave visit for the correct season
In the high season, from 1 May to 31 October, the caves open 09:00-17:30 and ticket sales end at 16:30. In the low season, from 1 November to 30 April, they open 09:30-17:00 and ticket sales end at 16:00. The ordinary-cave ticket for foreign visitors is CNY 55, including a CNY 15 foreign-language guiding fee.
Tip:Reserve through the official ticketing WeChat account; online presale tickets are valid once, only on the booked date, and cannot simply be moved to another day.
3
Follow the guided-entry process
Present the purchase information at the ticket-checking centre. Ordinary caves can only be entered with a guide. If you want to visit representative caves, buy the relevant ticket on site and allow time for waiting.
Tip:The caves are locked, so independent entry or leaving the guided group is not possible.
4
Allow time for the two visit types
Allow about 2.5-3 hours and aim for an earlier guided session. Ordinary-cave and representative-cave tours may not connect smoothly.
Tip:A late arrival can leave time for only part of the visit.
5
Respect the cave protection rules
Photography and video are prohibited inside the caves. Keep cameras and phones in your bag so you do not delay the guided group at the entrance.
Tip:Strong wind, rain, snow, or sandstorms can suspend cave access; tickets affected by these closures can be fully refunded.
Highlights
- Cave 25, including the Amitayurdhyana Sutra mural and Tang-dynasty wedding-scene details.
- Western Xia murals in Cave 3, including the Manjushri and Samantabhadra transformations.
- The Water-Moon Guanyin and fine line work in Cave 2.
- A gorge setting that feels closer to the original landscape of the cave complex than a museum visit.
- Ordinary caves provide the basic context; representative caves suit visitors with a specific interest in the murals.
Insider Tips
✦Photography and video are prohibited inside the caves. Keep cameras and phones in your bag so you do not delay the guided group at the entrance.
✦The Gobi is sunny, while the caves are cool. Bring a hat, sun protection, and a light layer.
✦The car park is for visitors during their visit only; follow road signs and staff directions when parking.
✦Strong wind, rain, snow, or sandstorms can suspend cave access. Tickets affected by these closures can be fully refunded.
✦Do not bring pets, oversized luggage, or strongly scented food into the visitor area.
More Dunhuang Attractions
02City Guide
Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake
鸣沙山月牙泉
All Ages
Admission
CNY 110 peak-season adult ticket; passport adult tickets are available. Shuttles and activities cost extra.
Typical Visit
3-5 hours; longer if adding a later dune climb
03Historic Walk
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敦煌博物馆
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Admission
Individual visitors collect an entry ticket with valid ID; groups reserve in advance.
Typical Visit
2-2.5 hours
04Historic Walk
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又见敦煌演出
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Admission
Separate performance ticket required; choose a ticketed showtime.
Typical Visit
About 90 minutes, plus entry time
05Food District
Shazhou Night Market
沙洲夜市
All Ages
Admission
Free entry.
Typical Visit
1-3 hours
06Historic Walk
Yangguan Scenic Area
阳关景区
All Ages
Admission
CNY 50 admission plus a CNY 20 sightseeing bus; CNY 90 combined admission ticket with Yumen Pass, with sightseeing buses extra.
Typical Visit
2-3 hours